“Good bye, horses!” shouted the St. Paul Daily Globe in 1892. At the end of the 19th century, advances in science, engineering, and technology resulted in a revolution in transportation. Electric cars were starting to compete with gasoline-powered cars.
A December 3, 1895 article in the Evening Star describes a race among multiple horseless vehicles (or “motocyles,” according to the article) powered by either gasoline or electricity. The article describes the challenge of ensuring there were enough charging stations along the route of a race for the electric cars.
Source: Library of Congress
After enjoying success at the beginning of the 20th century, the electric car began to lose its position in the automobile market. A number of developments contributed to this situation. By the 1920s an improved road infrastructure improved travel times, creating a need for vehicles with a greater range than that offered by electric cars. Worldwide discoveries of large petroleum reserves led to the wide availability of affordable gasoline, making gas-powered cars cheaper to operate over long distances. Electric cars were limited to urban use by their slow speed (no more than 15–20 mph) and low range (or 30–40 miles), and gasoline cars were now able to travel farther and faster than equivalent electrics. More on rise and fall of electric cars at Wikipedia.
Header image
Title: [Electric auto at re-charging station]
Created / Published: c1919 Aug. 25.
Publisher: Cress-Dale Photo Co., Seattle.
Library of Congress: LC-USZ62-69341